Ladder.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

T. W. SALING & J. MoKIEL.

LADDER.

A P o T LED 11.4.1905.

P H A ION n M 2 snnn'rs-snnn'r 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

THOMAS W. SALING AND JAMES MOKIEL, OF MARSHALL, TEXAS.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed January 4, 1905. Serial No. 289,624.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS W. SALING and JAMES MoKIEL, citizens of the United States, residing at Marshall, in the county of Harrison and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to ladders, and more particularly to one adapted for use in connection with freight-cars. Ladders of this character in general use comprise side rails to which the grab-irons or handholds are secured by being riveted or upset in openings therein. The objection to this form of ladder is that where a grab-iron breaks the ladder has to be removed from the car before it can be repaired. Furthermore, these rails are generally bolted to the side of the car, and the nuts holding them frequently work loose, there being no precaution taken to prevent this. The working loose of the nuts is caused by shrinkage of the wood and the vibrations and is a source of danger to brakemen, as it sometimes happens that the ladder will tear loose from the car and cause a brakeman to fall.

The objects of the present invention are in a simple, ready, and thoroughly feasible and practical manner to prevent the grab-irons from becoming disconnected from the rails, to facilitate positioning of a grab-iron, to ren der unnecessary any riveting or upsetting of the grab-iron to hold itin position, positively to preclude any working loose of the nuts and bolts holding the rails against the car, and generally to improve ladders of this construction.

With the above and other objects in View,

as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a freight-car ladder, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, there are illustrated three forms of embodiment of ghe invention, each capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage Without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a freight-car, exhibiting one form of ladder secured thereto. Fig.

2 is an end view of a freight-car, showing the ladder secured thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in section, showing the manner in which the ladder is carried over the top of the car to the roof. Fig. A is a detail perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of one of the rails shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is an edge view of a portion of one of the rails. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the grab-iron is held combined with the rails. Fig. 7 isaview in side elevation of a portion of a freight-car,showing a modified form of ladder combined therewith. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail View in section of the form of ladder shown in Fig. 7, showing the manner in which the same is carried over the top of the car-roof. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the ladder shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of a portion'of one of the rails shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a detail view in. perspective of a portion of one of the grab-irons shown in Figs. 7 to 10. Fig. 12 is a view in front elevation of amodified form of rail. Fig. 13 is an edge view of the same.

Referring to the drawings and to Figs. 1 to 6 thereof, C designates a freight-car,which will be of the usual or any preferred construction, and R the roof thereof.

The ladder of the present invention,as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, consists of two side rails l and a plurality of grab irons or handholds 2. 99,.

The rails are constructed of any suitable material, preferably of wrought-iron, and are made in sections of any desired length, connected by ordinary hinge-joints 3, the members of which are held assembled by pins or bolts 4, that are locked against accidental displacement by a split or cotter pin 5. The upper sections 6 of the ladder, which pass over the roof R, are combined with the sections on the side of the car by means of hingejoints 7, constructed as described, and are bent to pass around the eaves of the car-roof and are secured to the caves and to the roof by bolts 8 and 9, which carry nuts 10. The bolts 8 project through the eaves of the roof and through the sideof the car, and each car ries at its inner end a spring-plate 11, which bears against the inner side of the car-wall and operates to exert a pull on the bolt which will be efiective in taking up any lost motion that would result from shrinkage and also to prevent the nut from working loose. This IIO spring-plate is not shown as combined with the bolts 9; but it is to be understood that, if desired, it may be used in connection therewith, and as this will be obvious detailed illustration thereofis omitted. The rails are secured to the sides of the car by bolts 12, (shown in detail in Fig. 3,) the inner end of each of which is surrounded by acoiled spring 13, seated in a socket 14 in the side of the car and bearing against a washer 15, interposed between the spring and the head of the bolt. This spring operates to prevent the nuts 16, carried by the bolts, from working loose and also to compensate for shrinkage. By constructing the ladder-frame in sections, as described, in case of damage to a grab-iron the section carrying it may readily be removed from the car and the grab-iron be replaced with but slight labor and loss of time. One of the essential features of the present invention resides in the manner in which the grab-irons are combined with the rails, and in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 each rail is shown as provided with a plurality of spaced brackets 17, the outer end of each of which is bifurcated at 18 and the inner face grooved at 19, the base 20 of the bracket having an orifice 21 extending through it and disposed at right angles to the groove 19. The terminals of each grab-iron are bent at right angles to its length, as at 22, and then laterally at 23, the latter portions being disposed in parallelism with the body of the iron. The portions 22 of the grab-iron engage the grooves 19 of a pair of brackets, and the toes 23 engage the orifices 21. It will be seen that when the rails are in position grooves or seats 19 will positively prevent any rocking movement of the handhold and that the toes 23 will preclude any separation of the iron from the brackets. By the provision of the brackets the ordinary spacing irons or blocks to set the ladder out from the side of the car are dispensed with and the rails will operate to reinforce the sides of the car. Furthermore, by having the rails bear directly against the car leverage and strain on the rails are reduced to a minimum.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 11 each bracket24c is provided with a vertically-disposed seat 25 and with a vertically-orificed base 26. The grab-iron 27 has each end bent at right angles to its length, as

at 28, and the terminals are bent at right angles to the portions 28 to form toes 29. The seats 25 are engaged by the angular portions 28 and the orifices in the bases 26 by the toes 29.

may be positioned within the brackets Without the necessity of removing the rails 30, and in order to prevent the grab-irons from working loose when positioned a bolt 31 is passed through the seat members above the angle-bends 28, a cotter-pin 32, extending through one end of each bolt, serving posi- In this form of invention a grab-iron.

ilzively to prevent the grab-iron from working oose.

Instead of connecting the section 33 with the side sections by means of a inge-joint, such as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the upper terminal of the top side section is provided with an eye 34, which is engaged by a toe or hook 35, formed on the lower end of each of the roof-rail sections, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The other parts of this embodiment of the invention are the same as those described in connection with Figs. 1' to 6, and therefore need no further explanation.

In the form of the invention shown in F igs, 12 and 13 the brackets are oppositely disposed to those shown in Figs. 7 to 9that is to say, the toe 37 of a grab-iron 38, corresponding to the toe 29, projects upward, for which purpose the base or body 39 of the bracket is disposed on the upper side instead of on the under side. The bracket is provided with openings 40 to receive a bolt, such as that indicated by 31 in Fig. 9, for the purpose 0 holding the grab-iron in place.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the improvements of this invention are simple in character they accomplish in a thoroughly feasible and practical manner all the objects sought and that by their employment danger of accidents heretofore arising from breakage of the grabirons is positively obviated. Furthermore, repairs may readily and quickly be effected and the separation of the grab-irons from the rails be positively prevented.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A ladder comprising side rails provided with integral socketed brackets, and grabirons or handholds having their terminals disposed in the sockets.

2. A ladder comprising side rails provided with integral brackets each having a seat and a socket, and handholds having their termi nals formed to engage the seat and the socket.

I 3. A ladder comprising side rails having integral brackets provided with seats and sockets disposed at right angles to the seats, handholds having their terminals formed to engage the seats and sockets, and means for holding the terminals against disconnection from the brackets.

4:. A ladder comprising side rails having integral brackets provided with seats and sockets disposed at right angles to the seats, handholds having their terminals formed to engage the seats and sockets, and bolts combined with the brackets for holding the terminals against disconnection from the brackets.

5. A ladder comprising side rails having integral brackets provided with seats and sockets disposed at right angles to the seats, handholds having their terminals formed to engage the seats and sockets, means for holding the terminals against disconnection from the too holds having their terminals formed to engage the seats and sockets, and pins or bolts passing through the brackets above the terminals of the handholds to hold the latter combined with the brackets.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

THOS. W. SALING.

JAMES MGKIEL,

Witnesses:

E. T. BEDELL, J. B. J ONES. 

